Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-01
THE ATLANTA AND HED GUNS.
Report OF the Beard Of Naval Officern,
THE CRUISER ONLY SLIGHTLY DANA6Rp. But CHANGES
WILL HAVE 10 m MAD. 10 INSURE SAFE AND RAPID
EXRfSQ On Hxn cYrrs-a rf>oNNHxnA yIoxa


THE CRUISER ONLY szIsHrtY DAxAsEp, Bur CHANGES
WILL HAVE 10 m MADE 10 INSURE SAFE AND RAPID
FzRhsa OF Hxn USs-REcoxxESDAr1oSs
The report Of the board Of naval officers ap.
pointed to examine the Atlanta. her guns, car.
rfages nttingS Sc, and to ascertain the damage
sustained during recent target practice, was Ne
celved by the Secretary OF the Navy to-day. The
board states that the ship was taken to sea ON the
morning OF July %, and her guns were flred. mo
deficiencies, /" the report says "were noted In the
guns themselves, other than slight sticking Of
the breech plug in 6-inch B. L. r. No. (this dis
appeared during the firing; some difnculty In the
management of the lock OF 6-inch B. L. r. No. 4
caused oytslight upsetting OF the nring pin; and
the banding OF the extractor In e-pounder r F.
The recoil and counter-recoil Of the and e-inch
guns were easy and satisfactory, except At the
second nre OF the S-inch B. l. R., No. ], when the
N as gaa Sss oS
p. l. NO. l. at the frst fire was due to want OF
In sne and cup and a. the
that had the deck socket held the carsaes would
not have been disabled by the giving way Of the
the gum wss readily Trained Wnsa
t HuS 70 pace the action Of the aftef 6ncn shit.
front clips has pSy 81 Ssi an ncS
the action Of the broadside carriages q e.incn
guns No. and ID WIS satisfactory, except
copper rivets in the clips circles, and the wood
screws in the training circles. It Is believed from
the action Of the carriage OF 6inch B. 1. r No. 8
can be safely used without clips The clips, how.
ever, give additional security and steadiness to
Sc .s ssa s, s
We sa0'11sF guns Il.
shin and also dSe to % n an
the bolts that secure the mounts to the ports.
Inc I'M tower mounts OF the 3pounder r T: guns.
facility; the line Of sight of the gun is obstructed
at AL ranges beyond 600 yards and the guns cam
Used S sseS For s
holding down arrangements. The tower mounts
r. r guns and have the same Detects ne shelf
ana ana the trolly mounts Of the 81 MN. In the
top TOPS are ssa Careful
hun Of the vessel failed to develop any HVd damage
other than the breaking OF the caststeel port sis
ana .he starting OF some light woodwork The
and observers there were unable to observe which
6-lneh gun had been fired. The deck, hull and
hns with the Of the port %
lockers, and some OF the light woodwork have
everyappearance Of strength and ability to endure
the starboard beam, win not permit the crews of
the starboard 3pounder X. F. and 1-pounder X. F.
to remain at their guns. When the
after s-ineh gun is rred forward
OF the port beam The crews OF the after AMIN.
X. C. and Of the port after l-pdr. r Z. cannot re.
shifting gun is fired on the port bow or directly
ahead The crew OF forward s-inch gun cannot re-
main at their places. When the after e-inch
shifting gun Is fired on the starboard quarter or
directly aft the crew Of the after S-inch
gun cannot remain at their gun.
The Inability to fire parts of the secondary battery
under certain conditions is due to the great Of
fire given to the S-tnch guns. This can hardly be
called defect. 1t Is thought that screen can be
placed between the and 6-inch guns, which will
enable them to be worked together, forward Or
aft"
The board states eoncisely its opinions as to the
changes demanded, which consist principally in
the method OF fastening the bearing surfaces to
the steel deck, the construction OF clips and clip
circles, &C.
The report says In conclusion "the plan of test.
ing the hull, guns and fittings Of the Atlanta, ar.
ranged by the board, contemplated more ex.
tended use OF the main battery, but the weakness
developed In the port stills and in the sockets Of
the Sinch carriages rendered further flrtng inad-
vi5able.